Scottish Executive

Architecture

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the curriculum for trainee architects includes effective person-centred training on the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 that affect their profession.

Ms Wendy Alexander: It is for higher education (HE) institutions themselves to determine the content of programmes they offer. Ministers have no powers of intervention. Where HE institutions’ programmes are intended to lead to recognition by a professional body, it is common practice for the institution to consult the body concerned about programme content. Regulation of the profession of architect is a reserved matter. The Architects Registration Board, the independent regulator for the profession in the UK, has a statutory duty to oversee the validation process for universities’ architecture programmes as part of its regulatory duties.

Architecture

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the curriculum for postgraduate qualification for architects includes person-centred training on the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 that affect their profession.

Ms Wendy Alexander: It is for higher education institutions themselves to determine the content of programmes they offer. Ministers have no powers of intervention. I understand that, where higher education institutions’ programmes are intended to lead to recognition by a professional body, it is common practice for the institution to consult the body concerned about programme content. Regulation of the profession of architect is a reserved matter. The Architects Registration Board, the independent regulator for the profession in the UK, has a statutory duty to oversee the validation process for universities’ architecture programmes as part of its regulatory duties.

Architecture

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will make available to ensure that architects are trained on the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 that affect their profession.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The allocation of funds to individual higher education institutions is a matter for the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC). Ministers are explicitly prevented from attaching conditions to the grant to SHEFC by reference to particular institutions or programmes of study, including curriculum content.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Needs Assessment Report on autistic spectrum disorders by the Public Health Institute of Scotland will be published and what course of action it will then take with regard to the report’s recommendations

Malcolm Chisholm: The Needs Assessment Report on Autistic Spectrum Disorders is expected to be published at the end of December 2001.

  We will wish to consider the report’s recommendations carefully, particularly in relation to setting up the national network for autistic spectrum disorder.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to replicate the initiative by Lothian Health Board by ensuring that an Adult Autism Co-ordinator is appointed in each health board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The same as you? recommended that health boards and local authorities should identify a named professional who will be responsible for improving local services for people with autism and for linking local services to the national network. It is the responsibility of agencies locally to identify the named professional.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that there is a sufficient number of qualified and knowledgeable psychiatrists in autism and Asperger’s syndrome.

Malcolm Chisholm: The report of the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme review on autism and Asperger’s syndrome is expected to be submitted in January 2002. It will inform future decisions by the Executive on the organisation of services for this important care group, including workforce planning for child and adolescent psychiatrists.

  Within this context, local action is a matter for individual NHS boards, working in partnership with local agencies on the basis of their appreciation of the need for local service provision. A multi-disciplinary approach, developed in the Scottish Borders NHS Board area with voluntary, social care and educational partners and support from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Development Fund, provides a working example of good practice for other areas to consider in the management of their services.

  The understanding, assessment and collaborative management of autism and Asperger’s syndrome is part of the training pathway for all consultant psychiatrists.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that general practitioners are qualified to give a diagnosis of autism or Asperger’s syndrome.

Malcolm Chisholm: General practitioners, like other professionals, are encouraged to look at their own personal learning needs and the health needs of their patients and to seek training in specific areas accordingly. Guidance and assistance is available from the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education via the postgraduate Directors of General Practice Education. Each GP already receives an annual Postgraduate Education Allowance to support an agreed amount of training.

  In addition, revalidation by the General Medical Council and clinical governance now make explicit requirements for all doctors to provide evidence of their continuing competence.

Child Welfare

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps can be taken, in the interests of protecting children’s human rights, to ensure that they are not confronted by abusers at hearings of children’s panels.

Nicol Stephen: Abusers, either alleged or proven, cannot attend a Children’s Hearing unless that person holds parental rights over the child in question. In that event, the hearing must balance the human rights of the parent and child. This can be achieved through the Children’s Hearing sitting separately to listen to the views of each party and ensuring that no meeting takes place between the child and the abuser.

Child Welfare

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it holds statistics on child protection that show the number of abused (a) male and (b) female children, broken down by (i) gender, (ii) relationship of abuser to abused and (iii) specific category of abuse and whether it will make any such information publicly available.

Cathy Jamieson: National statistics on child protection are compiled and published annually by the Scottish Executive, using data supplied by local authorities about children who have been referred to them because of concerns that they have been abused or may be at risk of abuse. Statistics for the year ended 31 March 2000 were published on 23 October 2001 and are available on the Scottish Executive website ( www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00114-00.asp ). This provides a breakdown by primary known/suspected abuser, category of abuse and a breakdown by gender for all children referred for child protection enquiries.

Civil Service

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it uses when considering the relocation of (a) its departments and (b) non-departmental government bodies to locations outside Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Mr Andy Kerr: The criteria to be taken into account will vary according to the circumstances of the organisation under review. The policy states (question S1W-1558 refers) that the location of public sector jobs should promote efficiency and effectiveness and that, subject to that, the Executive will seek opportunities to locate jobs as close as possible to the communities they serve.

  A number of general criteria were set out in the letter sent to local authorities and Local Enterprise Companies in December last year, seeking information from them about potential location opportunities in their area. This made clear that ministers will take into account a range of financial and non-financial factors in reaching their decision, including economic factors relating to the areas concerned, such as unemployment levels and other indicators of deprivation, costs, transport links, disabled access, staff and personnel issues and environmental considerations. A range of specific issues which relate to the organisation under review, will also be taken into account.

Civil Service

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19645 by Angus Mackay on 19 November 2001, what locations within North Ayrshire are being considered for relocation of civil service jobs from Edinburgh and Glasgow; what discussions are taking place with North Ayrshire Council on this matter, and what criteria will be used to reach any final decision on the matter.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Executive wrote to all local authorities and local enterprise companies in December last year seeking information about relocation opportunities in local areas. We received a number of responses, including information about opportunities in North Ayrshire, which will continue to be considered. Following the announcement on 19 November 2001 on the progress of the policy (question S1W-19681) we will write again to provide details of the likely requirements of the new bodies in the programme.

  The relocation policy states that when the Scottish Executive establishes a new unit or agency, or where an existing unit is merged or otherwise reorganised, there should be a presumption against location in Edinburgh. It also states that where a significant property break point is reached – for example, the termination of an existing lease – relocation options outside Edinburgh will be considered. In each case, ministers will look at alternative locations. The criteria to be taken into account will vary according to the circumstances of the organisation under review.

Domestic Abuse

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what projects are currently being funded that aim to work with men who are violent to women but who have not been through the criminal justice process.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund is supporting a project to encourage agencies in Edinburgh to tackle male violence by working with men who have abused or are abusing their partners. This pilot is to encourage services, both statutory and voluntary, which already work with men to adopt good practice in terms of addressing men's abusive behaviour.

Domestic Abuse

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to encourage private companies to support and provide services for employees suffering from domestic abuse.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Good Practice Guidelines in the National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland contains a section on employment practices. It asks employers to develop a domestic abuse policy as part of the human resources function of the organisation and to undertake preventive work with employees. The National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the National Strategy.

Genetically Modified Crops

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the conditions of consent granted for the planting of genetically modified oilseed rape at Roskill Farm, Munlochy, Ross-shire included any requirement that the genetically modified proportion of the crop be a quarter of the size of the control crop; what the reasons are for the position on this matter, and whether any such requirement has any impact on the efficiency of food production.

Ross Finnie: The crop of genetically modified oilseed rape comprises just under 15 hectares of the 40 hectare field with the conventional control crop growing in the remainder of the field. The consent which applies to releases of this particular genetically modified crop does not permit more than 15 hectares to be released on an individual site. Identical sampling methods and equal numbers of control points are used in both parts of the field.

  The farm scale evaluation programme is not concerned with the efficiency of food production. The programme is designed to assess the impact on biodiversity of the agricultural practices associated with growing genetically modified crops.

Health

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the standard of patient safety within the NHS in Scotland is adequate and whether this standard compares favourably with the standard of patient safety within the NHS in England.

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish a Scottish equivalent of the National Patient Safety Agency which has been established in England and Wales.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHS Scotland has a widely recognised reputation for the quality and safety of its patient care. This is demonstrated in the work of the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland and the leading edge work being carried out by our other clinical effectiveness organisations. However, at present there are no direct ways of comparing standards of patient safety in England and Scotland.

  There would, however, be merit in pooling patient data from the two countries to provide more useful information for the benefit of Scottish and English patients. That is why we endorsed the principles of the Department of Health report An Organisation with a Memory (www.doh.gov.uk/orgmemreport/) and have initiated discussions with the Department of Health to ensure that their new National Patient Safety Agency can also work for the benefit of Scottish patients.

Health

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of NHS Trusts have achieved accreditation under the National Health Service (Clinical Negligence and Other Risks Indemnity Scheme) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000/54), as amended.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are three levels at which accreditation can be attained under the NHS Clinical Negligence and Other Risks Indemnity Scheme, and these can only be attained incrementally. Currently it is for individual NHS Trusts to decide when they wish to apply for accreditation.

  To date, 24 NHS Trusts have applied for Level 1 accreditation. Ten assessments have been undertaken, with six Trusts (60%) obtaining Level 1 status.

Health

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what areas its Sexual Health Strategy will cover.

Malcolm Chisholm: This remains under consideration.

Health

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when its Sexual Health Strategy will be published.

Malcolm Chisholm: The first stage of the strategy, which consisted of a survey of existing sexual health services and their effectiveness, has now been completed. This will inform the development of the next stage, which is now under consideration.

Health

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce one-stop clinics for sexual health.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHS Boards are expected to provide a full range of sexual health services. It is for boards to plan how such services are provided on their assessment of local needs.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18316 by Susan Deacon on 20 November 2001, when it will discuss the need for dental services drop-in centres in the major cities with relevant NHS Boards and Primary Care Trusts.

Malcolm Chisholm: We are in discussion with one NHS Board about their plans for a drop in centre and have approved recently two emergency dental service pilots which include provision for the treatment of unregistered patients.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to ensure that there is no waiting list for people with drug and alcohol problems who want detoxification and rehabilitation care and support.

Malcolm Chisholm: Reducing waiting for all patients is a key priority for the Scottish Executive and NHS Scotland. We have committed, over this and the next two financial years, an extra £13.1 million and £21 million for drug treatment and drug rehabilitation services respectively. The delivery of these new and improved services is being co-ordinated by the local Drug Action Teams.

  The Executive's Plan for Action on alcohol problems will be published shortly. The plan will identify action to improve current support and treatment services for people with alcohol problems, with the aim of delivering equitable, accessible and inclusive services for the future.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposed NHS Boards will put agreements in place with education authorities relating to the administration of medicines in schools.

Malcolm Chisholm: Guidance on the administration of medicine in schools was issued on 4 September. The guidance emphasises the need for co-operation between education authorities and NHS boards to ensure that adequate provision is made for the administration of medicine and refers to the NHS planning process as a suitable mechanism. The means for education authorities and health boards to reach agreement on this issue are therefore in place.

Hospitals

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many adverse incidents have been recorded in hospital admissions, expressed also as a percentage of all admissions; how many patients have died or been seriously injured as a result of such incidents involving medical devices; how many patients are reported to have experienced serious adverse reactions to drugs administered by physicians; how many written complaints have been made about aspects of clinical treatment in hospitals, and how much has been paid out in settlements of clinical negligence claims by the NHS, all in each of the past three years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The number of written complaints about aspects of clinical treatment in hospitals can be found at:

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/complaints/index.htm.

  The rest of the information is not held centrally but I will write to the member with the details of possible sources for the information when this has been located. I will place a copy of my letter in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Housing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Housing Improvement Task Force will publish its "issues" report.

Iain Gray: The current intention is that the task force will meet towards the end of January 2002 to consider an issues report based on the first stage of its work. I hope that it will be possible to publish the report for wider consultation shortly thereafter.

Housing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is addressing any problems experienced by local authorities when taking enforcement action against Houses in Multiple Occupation which are operating without a license.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce the time taken for cases of enforcement action against Houses in Multiple Occupation to reach court.

Iain Gray: In line with the recommendation of the research commissioned by the Scottish Office on the discretionary licensing schemes, the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation) Order 2000 which introduced mandatory licensing throughout Scotland, made explicit provision for authorised officers to the licensing authority to have powers of entry and search of unlicensed premises. The lack of a power of this nature was identified as a particular weakness in the previous discretionary licensing schemes, which prevented local authorities from obtaining information to be used as evidence for the prosecution of an owner who failed to apply for a licence when one was required or continued to operate after a refusal of a license.

  The Guidance on the Mandatory Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation, which was issued by the Scottish Executive also drew the attention of local authorities to the need to establish good relations with the police and procurator fiscal and suggested that local authority officials might want to meet the procurator fiscal to discuss any possible problems. It specifically referred to Reports to Procurator Fiscal – A Guide for Non-Police Reporting Agencies first published by the Crown Office in 1999 which gives guidance on the information that should be provided in reports to the procurator fiscal.

  The Scottish Executive has also provided advice on the Houses in Multiple Occupation licensing scheme to allow the Crown Office to update and reinforce its guidance to procurator fiscals. The procurator fiscals are responsible for deciding whether to prosecute cases referred to them by local authorities, subject to guidance issued by the Crown Office on timescales for taking and implementing decisions on cases.

Housing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Procurators Fiscal require varying types and levels of evidence from tenants and landlords prior to prosecution and, if so, what the reasons are.

Colin Boyd QC: In considering a report of an offence in relation to houses in multiple occupation, as in considering any report of any offence, procurators fiscal are under a duty to be satisfied that there is evidence available which is sufficient in law to prove the offence. Further information is given in the Prosecution Code and no special requirements apply in relation to houses in multiple occupation.

Lifelong Learning

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what lifelong learning opportunities are available for those who wish to develop their career in the Merchant Navy.

Ms Wendy Alexander: learndirect scotland provides a freephone helpline with trained advisors to provide information and guidance on learning opportunities to improve an individual’s career prospects. Searches of the database of learning opportunities, which can also be accessed on the world-wide web, can be configured by subject, highlighting online and distance learning opportunities in that subject area.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Prison Service Annual Report for 2000-01 will be published; whether its publication has been delayed and, if so, why.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts for 2000-01 is expected to be published within the next few weeks in accordance with section 22(5) of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7102 by Mr Jim Wallace on 7 June 2000, what percentage of officers who left the Scottish Prison Service in 2000-01 left due to (a) retirement through age, (b) ill health and (c) other reasons.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Based on the average number of staff employed the figures for 2000-01 were:

  


Retirement through age 
  

0.80% 
  



Ill Health 
  

0.30% 
  



Other reasons 
  

8.00%

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the expected cost of social work services to the Scottish Prison Service is for the current financial year.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The estimated cost is between £2 and £2.5 million.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of prison inmates received alcohol counselling and rehabilitation in (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000, (c) 2000-01 and (d) to date this year.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information requested is not available. The Scottish Prison Service Addictions Process provides a single gateway for all substance misuse presentations, including alcohol. The aim is that all who present will be offered an assessment, resulting in an individualised care plan. This will address the range of needs identified, including those that are alcohol related.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the turnover of general practitioners who provided a prison medical service was in (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000 and (c) 2000-01, broken down by prison.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is not available.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many general practitioners previously providing a prison medical service have gone on to employment with Medacs.

Mr Jim Wallace: : I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  All medical practitioners who had an individual contract of employment with the Scottish Prison Service on 1 November 2001 had their contracts transferred to Medacs, in accordance with the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many general practitioners Medacs provides to prisons, how these general practitioners are distributed between prisons, and what the ratio of these general practitioners is to prisoners, broken down by prison.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information is not collected by SPS. It is for the contractor to arrange to provide the outputs specified in the contract.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11578 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 December 2000, whether data is now collected on the prevalence of speech and language difficulties among the prison population and, if so, what data has been collected.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Yes, data relating to needs assessment is currently being collected via referrals to speech therapy at Polmont Young Offenders Institute.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7645 by Mr Jim Wallace on 8 September 2000, what the average daily population of penal establishments is projected to be in each of the next three financial years, broken down into (a) privately operated penal establishments, (b) Scottish Prison Service establishments and (c) legalised police cells.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The average daily population in the next three financial years is projected to be:

  


2002-03 
  

6,400 
  



2003-04 
  

6,500 
  



2004-05 
  

6,700 
  



  The prisoner population projections do not distinguish between privately operated penal establishments, Scottish Prison Service establishments and legalised police cells.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10762 by Mr Jim Wallace on 14 November 2000, what financial allocation was made (a) in total and (b) to each local authority for criminal justice social work in 2001-02.

Mr Jim Wallace: Financial allocations to local authorities for 2001-02 for offender services totalled £44,855,716. Allocations to individual local authorities are detailed in the following table. Additional sums to allow for procurement of IT equipment will be notified shortly.

  Allocations by authority 2001-02

  


Local Authority 
  

Total 2001-02
  (£) 




Aberdeen City 
  

2,737,306 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

1,075,465 
  



Angus 
  

888,882 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

445,987 
  



City of Edinburgh 
  

3,959,960 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

441,109 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

1,177,127 
  



Dundee City 
  

2,311,743 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

954,952 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

368,815 
  



East Lothian 
  

497,568 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

376,618 
  



Falkirk 
  

1,018,283 
  



Fife 
  

3,206,108 
  



Glasgow City 
  

8,961,247 
  



Highland 
  

1,716,789 
  



Inverclyde 
  

1,081,381 
  



Midlothian 
  

500,865 
  



Moray 
  

398,176 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

1,019,416 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

2,200,218 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

905,096 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

1,564,381 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

674,073 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

771,714 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

2,357,546 
  



Stirling 
  

717,766 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

1,010,707 
  



West Lothian 
  

865,912 
  



Orkney 
  

306,984 
  



Shetlands 
  

208,286 
  



Western Isles 
  

135,236 
  



Total 
  

44,855,716

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the staff turnover has been at each Scottish Prison Service prison in (a) 2000-01 and (b) to date in the current year.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is shown in the following table.

  


Establishments 
  

2000-01 
  

01/04/01 to 01/10/01 
  



Aberdeen 
  

5 
  

6 
  



Barlinnie 
  

35 
  

19 
  



Castle Huntly 
  

5 
  

1 
  



Cornton Vale 
  

21 
  

16 
  



HM YOI Dumfries 
  

6 
  

4 
  



Edinburgh 
  

40 
  

31 
  



YOI Glenochil 
  

16 
  

15 
  



Greenock 
  

13 
  

9 
  



Inverness 
  

5 
  

11 
  



Low Moss 
  

3 
  

9 
  



Noranside 
  

2 
  

3 
  



Perth 
  

25 
  

22 
  



Peterhead 
  

30 
  

20 
  



Polmont 
  

21 
  

12 
  



Shotts 
  

23 
  

24 
  



  Turnover does not include retiring employees.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8916 by Mr Jim Wallace on 17 August 2000, what the current ratio is of prisoners to uniformed staff in the Scottish Prison Service, broken down by establishment.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Ratio of Prisoners to Uniformed Staff in the SPS

  


Establishment 
  

01/04/01 
  



HMP Aberdeen 
  

1.5:1 
  



HMP Barlinnie 
  

2.1:1 
  



HMP Castle Huntly 
  

2.5:1 
  



HMP Cornton Vale 
  

1.1:1 
  



HM YOI Dumfries 
  

1.1:1 
  



HMP Edinburgh 
  

1.8:1 
  



HMP YOI Glenochil 
  

1.4:1 
  



HMP Greenock 
  

2.0:1 
  



HMP Inverness 
  

1.4:1 
  



HMP Low Moss 
  

2.6:1 
  



HMP Noranside 
  

1.9:1 
  



HMP Perth 
  

1.2:1 
  



HMP Peterhead 
  

1.5:1 
  



HMP Polmont 
  

1.4:1 
  



HMP Shotts 
  

1.4:1 
  



HMP Zeist 
  

1.0:31

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5082 by Mr Jim Wallace on 26 September 2000, how many children under the age of 16 were held in each adult prison for less than (a) 24 hours and (b) 48 hours, (c) up to seven days and (d) more than seven days in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) to date this year.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table sets out the number of unruly certificate remands for 1999 and 2000 where the child was under the age of 16. Figures to date this year are not yet available.

  


 


1999 
  

2000 
  



< 24hrs 
  

< 48hrs 
  

3 to 7 Days 
  

> 7 Days 
  

Total 
  

< 24hrs 
  

< 48hrs 
  

3 to 7 Days 
  

> 7 Days 
  

Total 
  



Aberdeen 
  

 


 


 


 


0 
  

 


 


 


 


0 
  



Barlinnie 
  

 


 


 


 


0 
  

 


 


 


 


0 
  



Corton Vale 
  

 


 


 


 


0 
  

 


 


 


 


0 
  



Dumfries 
  

 


 


 


 


0 
  

 


 


 


1 
  

1 
  



Edinburgh 
  

 


 


 


 


0 
  

 


 


 


1 
  

1 
  



Glenochil YOI 
  

 


 


 


 


0 
  

 


 


 


 


0 
  



Greenock 
  

 


 


 


1 
  

1 
  

 


 


 


 


0 
  



Inverness 
  

 


 


 


 


0 
  

 


 


 


 


0 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

 


 


 


 


0 
  

 


 


1 
  

 


1 
  



Longriggend 
  

 


 


2 
  

2 
  

4 
  

 


 


 


2 
  

2 
  



Perth 
  

 


 


4 
  

 


4 
  

 


 


 


1 
  

1 
  



Polmont 
  

 


 


 


 


0 
  

 


2 
  

2 
  

4 
  

8 
  



Total 
  

0 
  

0 
  

6 
  

3 
  

9 
  

0 
  

2 
  

3 
  

9 
  

14

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken regarding any possible sale of the former HM Prison Longriggend.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  SPS has conducted a sales campaign following which we hope to sell the property as soon as possible.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated monthly cost is of maintaining the estate of the former HM Prison Longriggend.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  About £5,000.

Regulation

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any increase in the cost of enforcing regulations on businesses since the establishment of the Improving Regulation in Scotland unit.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The cost of enforcing any regulation falls upon the enforcement agency concerned. The attention of the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit (IRIS) is on the impact of regulations upon businesses, charities and the voluntary sector. The cost of enforcing any regulation does not come within the remit of the unit, except to the extent that any costs are passed onto business. In that circumstance, the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) process is designed to bring these costs into account and to provide ministers, before any regulation is introduced, with as full a picture as possible of the likely costs for business, charities or the voluntary sector. Since the full RIA process is only required where an additional burden is identified, the IRIS Unit cannot say if there has been a net increase or decrease for business in the cost of enforcing regulations.

Scottish Bus Group Pension Schemes

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of the former Scottish Bus Group pension schemes was at 31 March 2001.

Lewis Macdonald: During the debate on motion S1M-2486 on 29 November 2001, I announced that the sum receivable by Scottish Bus Group Limited in respect of pension scheme surpluses at 31 March 2001, after deduction of tax at 35%, is estimated at £168 million.

  The Scottish Transport Group Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2001 will be laid before the Scottish Parliament shortly.

Shipping

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to the proposals by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Orkney Islands Council and Orkney Enterprise for a containerport in Scapa Flow to develop shipping transportation businesses between North America, Europe, the Far East and the UK.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive maintains close liaison with the locally led initiative of Orkney Islands Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and Orkney Enterprise which is investigating the market for a container transhipment terminal at Scapa Flow. Highlands and Islands Enterprise has contributed to the costs of investigating this proposal.

Tourism

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the range of locations currently covered by the definition of tourist attractions for the purposes of the Trunk Road and Motorway Tourist Signposting Policy; whether it has any plans to review this matter; in particular, why golf courses are not considered to be tourist attractions under the terms of that definition, and whether the lack of tourist signposting for golf courses has any impact on the Executive's strategy for the promotion of golf to visitors.

Lewis Macdonald: A tourist attraction/facility is broadly defined, for signing purposes, as being a permanently established destination or facility that attracts or is used by visitors to an area and which is open to the public without prior booking during its normal working hours. Examples of the types of tourist attractions/facilities eligible for signing under this definition are historic buildings, gardens, leisure complexes, beaches, ancient monuments, historic churches, zoos, picnic sites etc.

  The importance of golf as a major tourist attraction in Scotland is recognised. However, golf clubs must, through the local tourist board, take appropriate steps to develop a marketing strategy and inform the public of the golf course through advertising material. As the majority of golf courses are used mainly by their members and require pre-booking for any visitors they are not normally considered suitable for tourist signposting.

  The Trunk Road and Motorway Tourist Signposting Policy was introduced in 1998 following wide consultation with interested parties, including the Scottish Tourist Board, to ensure a consistent approach across the trunk road network. There are no proposals to review this policy.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-19315 on 26 October 2001, whether a copy of the valuation made by the District Valuer showing how the land currently being developed in the landscape scheme associated with the new Parliament building at Holyrood was valued will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Sir David Steel: Arrangements are being made to place the District Valuer’s report in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre shortly.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S1W-19154 on 14 November 2001, whether a claim under the guarantee provided by the parent company has been made or will be made.

Sir David Steel: A claim will be considered   once the extent of   Flour City   Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd’s liability becomes clear.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the sum of £854,000 paid to Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd in respect of the work undertaken on design and specialist cladding services was paid in one or more payments, and on what date or dates the payments were made.

Sir David Steel: The amount paid to Flour City Architectural Metals involved five separate payments. The dates and amounts (excl. VAT) are given below.

  


12 March 01 
  

194,000 
  



23 April 01 
  

68,366 
  



01 June 01 
  

139,671 
  



14 June 01 
  

252,185 
  



16 July 01 
  

199,845 
  



Total 
  

854,067

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-19252 on 14 November 2001, what concerns were expressed and by whom, and in particular what matter the Design Team expressed concern about in May 2001.

Sir David Steel: Concerns were expressed by EMBT/RMJM in May 2001 that receipt of certain technical information from Flour City was "considerably overdue".

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer whether an independent inquiry will be carried out into the appointment of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd.

Sir David Steel: I am aware of no grounds for, or plans to carry out, an independent inquiry into the appointment of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd.